In 1944 President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Servicemen's Readjustment Act, otherwise known as the GI Bill. After World War II, more than two million veterans attended college on the GI Bill, according to estimates.
The current program, now known as the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB), is the centerpiece of military education benefits. The bottom line for the GI Bill is a generous one: Active duty servicemembers and veterans can receive a monthly benefit that is valued at nearly $40,000. This tax-free benefit can be used for tuition, books, fees, and living expenses while earning a degree or certification (including undergraduate and graduate degrees), or attending trade school.
2009 GI Bill Update: Many post-9/11 veterans and servicemembers will soon begin receiving benefits under a new comprehensive education benefits package that goes well beyond helping to pay for tuition. Many veterans who served after Sept. 11, 2001, will get full tuition and fees, a new monthly housing stipend, and a $1,000 a year stipend for books and supplies. The new bill also gives Guard and Reserve members who have been activated for more than 90 days since Sept. 11, 2001, access to the same GI Bill benefits. Learn more about the New Post-9/11 GI Bill.
In addition to helping fund your studies at traditional colleges; the GI Bill can be used to pay for independent study programs, required continuing education units, licensing, certification, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training (OJT) programs.
The GI Bill
- The New Post-9/11 GI Bill
- Accelerated Benefit Payment
- Active Duty Payment Rates
- Active Duty User's Guide
- Additional Features
- GI Bill Apprenticeship
- Eligibility Details
- GI Bill FAQ
- GI Bill Top-Up
- Guard Payment Rates
- Licensing and Certification
